jdhmnovel Chapter 154 Leaving
Chapter 154 Leaving
Why did he stretch out his arm...
Chu Yi regretted it so much that he wanted to chop off both of his arms.
He hugged the girl in public. If he said he didn't want to marry her, his parents would definitely beat him to death.
But even though Prince Jingyang embraced Second Miss Shen, he didn't come to propose marriage. And Prince Ning rescued Second Miss Shen, but there was no engagement either...
At least one of these two men will definitely not marry Miss Shen Er. Can he not marry her?
Chu Yi protested inwardly, but his mouth seemed to be blocked by something and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Chu Yi said that he had no relationship with the eldest daughter of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. Xiao Xun definitely didn't believe it, but it didn't matter. He smiled and said, "Looks like I have to drink your wedding wine first."
Chu Yi, “…”
Xie Guimo, "..."
For others, getting engaged is faster than having a meal, but why is it so difficult for him?
There were many people coming to the palace for the banquet today, and it was already very lively. With the topics of conversation contributed by Chu Yi and Miss Yun, the imperial garden was full of laughter and joy. Wherever Chu Yi went, congratulations followed. He now just wanted to find the toad and skin it alive!
When the news reached Shen Tang's ears, Shen Tang felt that this marriage was a good match. Although Chu Yi had an eccentric personality, he was a good person. Miss Yun was the daughter of the Right Prime Minister. She was proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. She was not comparable to ordinary ladies. In his previous life, the Right Prime Minister did not take sides. He did not stand on the side of the eldest prince, nor did he favor the second prince. But even so, he still made the second prince's party unhappy. After all, the Right Prime Minister was a very powerful official, and there were countless people eyeing that position. After the second prince ascended the throne, the Right Prime Minister was forced to resign.
Chu Yi is on Xie Guimo's side. He married the daughter of the Right Prime Minister, so it will be much easier for them to win over the Right Prime Minister in the future.
Today, Queen Xu's birthday banquet is held in Wende Hall and is about to begin. The palace maids invite all the civil and military officials and their families who come to celebrate the birthday to move to Wende Hall.
Shen Xian was not there. Shen Tang and Shen Ran sat at the same table. When everyone was present, a droopy voice came over:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Everyone stood up to welcome the Emperor and the Queen Mother, wishing the Queen a long and healthy life.
Empress Xu was all smiles, but it was only a superficial smile. Although these ministers were present at the birthday banquet for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, a banquet that was carefully prepared a month in advance was not comparable to one that was prepared six or seven days in advance. It would be embarrassing to say it out loud. She was probably the only empress in history who held a birthday banquet so hastily.
They said they were celebrating her birthday, but what they were actually doing was showing off how favored Concubine Ye was. Even if Empress Xu tried to pretend, she couldn't pretend to be happy.
Concubine Ye tried her best to be patient and still had a smile on her face. She glanced at the Second Madam and had to say that Second Madam Shen's idea of holding a birthday banquet for the Queen was indeed brilliant.
If you can get that done today, she will definitely reward you handsomely.
The highlight of the birthday banquet was the birthday celebration. The Empress Dowager gave Empress Xu a jade ruyi, and the Emperor gave her a pair of colored porcelain cups and vases. Empress Xu stood up to express her gratitude. Concubine Ye presented a string of jade beads, and Concubine Zhao presented two oriental pearls.
Next came the eldest prince, who presented a longevity painting embroidered with gold thread, and then the second prince...
The princes and princesses presented their gifts first, and then it was the turn of Prince Ning. Prince Ning presented a jade ruyi made of gold. Empress Xu stood up and thanked him.
After Prince Ning, there were princes such as Prince Zhao, and then the Dukes, Dukes and Marquises. The gifts they gave were varied, and the main feature was their expensiveness and grandeur.
Shen Tang watched the whole thing from beginning to end. Probably, except for the eldest prince who prepared it in advance, the others' were probably thought up on the spur of the moment in the past few days. However, there was nothing wrong with them. Queen Xu's expression also improved a lot. Even if the birthday banquet was held in a hurry and it hurt her, these gifts were actually a considerable income in her hands, which would be good if she could use it to win over people for the eldest prince.
Thinking this way, I felt much better.
However, only officials from the capital presented birthday gifts. The birthday banquet was held in a hurry, and the officials who were sent to other places probably had not received the news at this time, so naturally they would not send anyone to send gifts to the capital. Of course, there were also people from the eldest prince's party who sent gifts, but that was done privately, and they would send gifts regardless of whether there was a banquet or not.
After all the officials offered their birthday wishes, they all stood up and wished the empress good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains. Then the dancers came up to perform.
It's very lively.
Shen Tang sat there, drinking tea, eating snacks and watching singing and dancing. Last time, Concubine Ye failed to plot against her and Shen Xing suffered. The same trick should not be used a second time, especially since today was Empress Xu's birthday banquet. Empress Xu was already very unhappy with the birthday banquet. If Concubine Ye made trouble again, Empress Xu would never agree.
Shen Tang was relieved. He just watched a few dances and ate some candied bayberries. A palace maid came over and slipped a note to him while she was pouring tea.
Shen Tang, "..."
Is there really someone who wants to ask her out?
Shen Tang took the note and opened it under the table. It read:
Go to the White Jade Bridge in the Imperial Garden to see it.
Xiao Huan.
Only then did Shen Tang notice that Xiao Huan had left the banquet.
Shen Tang glanced in the direction of Xie Guimo, and when she noticed Shen Tang looking at him, Xie Guimo gave her a reassuring look, and Shen Tang left the table with peace of mind.
Shen Ran looked at her, "Where are you going, Second Sister?"
Shen Tang said, "I'll go wash my hands."
Shen Tang read the note. Shen Ran knew that she was a little worried. "How about I go with you?"
Shen Tang refused, "No, I'll be back soon."
Since Shen Tang didn't want him to accompany her, Shen Ran didn't insist on accompanying her and continued to enjoy the singing and dancing.
Shen Tang left Wende Hall from the back. When she saw her go out, Concubine Ye winked at the palace maid and she went down.
Xie Guimo sat there drinking. After finishing a pot of wine, the eunuch brought him another pot, and he drank one cup after another.
As for Shen Tang, he followed the instructions on the note and headed to the White Jade Bridge in the Imperial Garden. However, there was no one on the bridge. Shen Tang waited patiently there, while Ginkgo, on the other hand, was getting anxious. "Miss, how long do we have to wait to go?"
She didn't know either, Xie Guimo didn't say.
"Wait, then."
It's nice to get some fresh air here.
Shen Tang waited for two quarters of an hour, feeling like she was about to be blown silly by the wind, but no one came to pay attention to her. Shen Tang's legs were sore from standing, and she really couldn't stand any longer. Shen Tang didn't care, "Go back."
She couldn't just stand here stupidly, so the master and servant walked back the same way they came. As they left, she looked around, wondering if the person Xie Guimo had arranged to protect her was also standing stupidly in some corner.
Shen Tang brought Ginkgo back to Wende Hall and could hear the pleasant singing and dancing coming from inside from afar.
Inside the hall, after the dancers finished their dance, a lady from a noble family came on stage to perform.
Concubine Ye was watching at her leisure. A palace maid came over quickly and whispered something in her ear. Concubine Ye frowned and said, "What?!"
She deliberately lowered her voice, but it was still loud enough for the Emperor and Empress Xu to hear.
The emperor looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Concubine Ye hurriedly said, "It's nothing, I just feel sick in my stomach and will be leaving for a moment."
The emperor withdrew his gaze and Concubine Ye stood up. Empress Xu was worried and gave a wink to her personal nanny, Nanny Zhao, who then led her people to follow.